Saturday, October 30, 2004
Kentucky colleges: Collinsworth inspirational
Saints assistant overcomes handicap
By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer contributor
It may have initially appeared a goodwill gesture. Adam Collinsworth, paralyzed from the neck down, was asked in 1999 to help coach the Thomas More football team for which he had once played.
Nearly six seasons later, no one could suggest Collinsworth's sideline presence isn't deserved. The 26-year-old has proved invaluable as the Saints' assistant linebacker coach - and defensive coordinator of the JV team - while providing a tireless example to players and fellow coaches.
While savoring a final season coaching his younger brother, Craig, a senior captain and linebacker, Collinsworth has earned nomination for the NCAA Inspiration Award.
"He is a source of strength for all of us," TMC coach Mike Hallett said. "There's no room for the faint of heart around here when you see Adam working so hard."
Collinsworth was a star linebacker for the Saints, the team's second-leading tackler as a sophomore, but broke his neck on Aug. 9, 1998, in a diving accident at a friend's pool.
He went into cardiac arrest, his heart stopping twice, and spent three months in the hospital. Six weeks passed before he breathed on his own. It took months to regain feeling in his hands, and even now he can raise them only to his face.
Yet Collinsworth never quit. He returned to school, adding modifications such as a voice-activated computer, and graduated in 2001 with a 3.3 GPA in business administration. He helps in areas as diverse as film study, scheduling, recruiting and weight training. Hallett said Collinsworth's ability to deduce strategy gleaned from opponents' formations is uncanny.
TMC VOLLEYBALL: Junior Laura Wiegele (Mercy) set a new school record for career digs last weekend. She now has 2,291; the old mark of 2,222 was held by Jenny Boerger (1990-93).
TMC WOMEN'S SOCCER: Freshman Emily Hagedorn (Newport Central Catholic) was named Association of Division III Independents player of the week after scoring three goals - two of them game-winners - in two games. The Saints finished 13-3-1
NKU CROSS COUNTRY: Both the men's and women's teams finished fifth in the GLVC Championships; the men had been eighth (last) the past three seasons. Tracy Carskadon (Oak Hills) repeated all-GLVC honors by finishing fifth in the women's race in 22:45, a 6K school record. Keith Knapp (Lloyd) led the men with an 11th-place finish and became his team's first GLVC freshman of the year honoree.
NKU MEN'S SOCCER: Freshman Kyle Roberts was named Great Lakes Valley Conference player of the week. He scored both goals in a 2-0 upset of No. 9 Lewis.
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